Albania 1970 50 leke

from the Stack's Bowers Collector's June 2022 Choice sale, lot 70224

This specimen was lot 70224 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2022), where it sold for $1,200. The catalog description^[1] noted, "ALBANIA. 50 Leke, 1970. NGC PROOF-67 Ultra Cameo. Struck in remembrance of the Greek ruins located in the Albanian city of Gjirokastër. A sharply cameoed example of this RARE issue with carefully preserved surfaces that near the apex for the type." This type was struck 1968-70 with and without the fineness stamped into the reverse.

Recorded mintage: 100.

Specification: 9.87 g, 0.900 fine gold, 0.2856 troy oz AGW.

Catalog reference: Fr-21; KM 53.3.

Source:

• Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• ^[1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The June 2022 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancients & World Coins - Featuring Selections from the Kings Norton Mint Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.

Links to:

• 1968 50 lekë, ruins of Argirocastrum
• 1970 10 lekë, 500th anniversary of the death of Prince Skanderbeg
• 1970 20 lekë, Skanderbeg's helmet
• 1970 25 lekë, sword dance
• Coins and currency dated 1970